Cattermole once again has a ban hanging over him, having already notched up nine yellow cards this season.

It means the combative Black Cats’ skipper must stay out of trouble until early April if he wants to avoid an automatic two-match suspension.

If he is booked at the Hawthorns, the midfielder will miss next Sunday’s Tyne-Wear showdown at Newcastle and having already sat out the two FA Cup derbies against his former club Middlesbrough, that’s the last thing Cattermole wants.

O’Neill admits it has crossed his mind to rest his captain this afternoon to ensure his availability against Newcastle.

But following Cattermole’s man-of-the-match performance in the cup win over Arsenal, he’s reluctant to take him out of the firing line.

Instead, Cattermole will run out with a stern managerial warning ringing in his ears.

“Lee could pick up a booking coming out of the bath,” O’Neill joked. “I have given his selection some thought but have tried to dismiss it. Having said that, it is important to have a talk with Lee.”

Cattermole has played some of his best football for Sunderland since O’Neill took charge.

The manager added: “I do think referees are more inclined to book him by reputation although that doesn’t mean I am totally on his side when it comes to this issue.

“I do think he has genuinely tried to improve (his disciplinary record) and his overall game is doing very well.

“But over the course of time, we need to reach a stage where we are not coming into every season fearful that he’ll have a two-match ban hanging over him halfway through February. It is something in which he can help himself.”

Nicklas Bendtner returns to the squad wearing a protective face mask following the injury he sustained against Swansea last month.